Phonograph



Feb; 11, 1936.A

Patented Feb. Il,` 193 Dictaphone orporation,

Bridgeport, Conn., a

corporation of New York Application January 16, 1928,

serial No. 246,934

Renewed September 29, 1934 e Claims. (Gl. 2te- 20) This invention and more particularly to carriage feeding and spacing means therefor.

An object of the present invention is to permit the carriage to be moved independently of the operation of the feed mechanism by hand or otherwise without necessitating disconnection of the feed mechanism.

A further object ls to obtain this result in a machine having a feed mechanism comprising a ieed-screw, for this type of mechanism has so far proven to be the best and so far only practical form of feed mechanism for dictating machines.

An important feature of the invention is the i provision of means to permit the user to move the carriage by merely pushing it by hand without performing any operation to disconnect the feed mechanism from the carriage.

A feature of the invention is the simplication of dictating machines, for the connection between the feed-screw and the carriage is, according to the present invention, not composed of the usual multiplicity of parts made necessary in .a construction where the feed-nut must be moved from engagement with the feed-screw when spacing the carriage in either direction.

Another feature is the provision of a direct connection between the feed-screw and the carriage so as to avoid the possibility of back-lash, which is an important factor in dlctating machine operation, and to avoid which it has been heretofore necessary to exercise extreme accuracy and care in making the parts. By providing the direct connection, the carriage is caused to advance over the record-surface immediately upon rotation of the record. support and cooperating feed-screw .which prevents repeating, i. e. repetitious reproducing, which occurs if the carriage is not caused to travel immediately uponl the start of the record-support rotation.

These and other objects and advantages have been attained by the present invention by the provision of a circular feed-nut or worm-wheel which is rotatably mounted directly on the carriage and is constantly in engagement with the feed-screw, the mounting of which is such that the feed-nut is held against rotation while the machine regularly operates, yet is permitted to rotate while still in engagement with the feedscrew when the carriage is moved by extraneous force either by direct manual operation or through other mechanism.

A particularly important advantage of the present invention is that wear of the cooperating relates to dictating machineal feed mechanism parts is reduced to a minimum, because the circular feed-nut always remains in engagement with the feed-screw and thus neither of these parts will have the thread structure crushed or damaged as is ultimately the case g when these parts are frequently thrown into and out of engagement with each other.. Moreover, because the 'periphery of the feed-nut is relatively large and all portions of the circular feednut are brought into use from time to time, wear 1o is distributed over a greater surface with the result that the feed 'mechanism need not be replaced during the normal life of the machine.

Referring to the drawing- Figure. l is a side sectional view of the upper l5 part of the dictating machine, and shows the present invention as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of parts of the dictating machine shown in Fig. l.

The phonograph shown, comprises the usual 2o top plate It having formed integral therewith a housing il which forms a support for carriage rods I2 and i3 upon which a sound-box carriage I 4 is adapted to travel longitudinally of the machine over the surface of a record l5 mounted 25 upon a record-support it which is fixed on a shaft il having a bearing or support in the housing portion il ofthe top plate. Mounted in the carriage It is a sound-box it which, as usual, contains a diaphragm, a stylus 2t mounted on a 30 lever 2l supported by a Weighted carrier Z2 pivot-ally mounted on a rod 23 carried by a bracket 24 mounted o'n trunnions 25 for movement in a plane at right angles to the plane of movementof the carrier 22 on the pivot rod'23. The pivot 35 rod 23 and the trunnions 25 permit the stylus 2li to have free vertical and lateral movement respectively relatively to the record Within limits of a guide plate 26 on the sound-box which confines a pin 27 carried by the carrier 22. In ac- 40 commodating itself to records of various thick`I nesses and to inequalities in the record-surface, the stylus 26 with the carrier 22 moves up and down on the pivot 23 and for free tracking of the record moves horizontally about the trun- 45 nions 25. For the purpose of imparting sound impulses to the diaphragm l 9 from the sound grooves on the record I5, the stylus lever 2l is connected to the diaphragm by a wire 28. While an acoustical reproducing device is herein shown 50 and described, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to this or any particular form of sound-box.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, the carriage I4 and related sound-box i8 55 which is fixed to the arm u by having are caused to advance over the record-support I6 under the influence of a rotatable feed-screw as usual, rotation of these cooperating parts is accomplished when a toothed clutch member 3l is brought into engagement with the toothed part 32 of the rotating driving pulley 33 by means ci a clutch shifting mechanism. This form of feed mechanism has been selected for the present embodiment of the inventionbecause this feed-screw type has proven to be the most satisfactory and only practical feeding means known to the art.

With this feed-screw, the present invention provides a vervY simple, vnovel and eicient cooperating mechanism on the carriage of the machine having several advantages which will hereinaiter be referred to in detail.

'This cooperating mechanism, in the embodiment ci the invention herein shown, comprises a circular feed-nut 34, preferably in the form of a worm wheel, rotatably mounted on a stud 35 portion 36 of the carriage frame i4 bya nut 31, said worm wheel being arranged to be always in engagement with the feed-screw 29. In order to cause the carriage to feed under the inuence of the feed-screw 29, the present invention provides means for holding the worm-wheel feed-nut against normally turning. This means, however, is so arranged that the worm-wheel may rotate and roll upon the iced-screw when the carriage is moved by hand or otherwise than by the feed-screw. This is accomplished. in the present embodiment of the invention, by normally frictionally holding the worm-wheel against rotation by means of a yieldaole spring spider 38 which, through a key and spline arrangement 39, is iixed against rotation on the stud. Yreferably, the amount of friction is adjustable by a regulating nut 40. This irictional pressure may be regulated or adjusted by the nut 40 so as to sufciently hold the circular feed-nut against rotation to cause the carriage to move longitudinally of the machine under the influence of the rotating feed-screw (the regular or usual function of the machine for reproducing) when no force extraneous to the feed-screw is applied to the carriage. However, this frictional pressure is such that the operator may grasp and move or merely push the carriage at will in either direction without removing the circular feed-nut from the feed-screw in order to space the same longitudinally of the recordsupport.

Preferably and as shown, the mounting of this circular feed-nut 34 is so arranged that the reproducer carriage may be swung about the axis of the carriage rod I2 by rotation of the eccentric carriage rod I3 to set the sound-box I8 in proper relation to the record-support I6, without changing the operative relationship of the circular feed-nut 34 to the rotatable feed-screw.

By the use of this mechanism and the device lust described, several distinct advantages are obtainedand a simpliiied construction is made possible, for it will be seen that it is not necessary to provide ythe usual involved means to move theieed-nut out of engagement with thefeedscrew when it is desired to move the carriage in either direction longitudinally of the record and, the circular feed-nut continually in engagement with the feed-screw, there is no danger oi' topping nor is there danger of crushing the thread or excessive wear of the same which usually occurs in a construction where the mating parts are thrown into engagement with each other a great number of times. Further, no separate operations or movement of controls need be performed in order to space the carriage in either direction, for the operator need merely grasp and move or push the carriage in either desired direction longitudinally of the'machine and any desired extent. Further, with this arrangement, the operator need never concern himself about the condition of the machine, i. e. whether or not the feed-nut is in engagement withy the feed-screw, ior, according to the present invention, the feednut is at all times in engagement with and in operative relation to the feed-screw and, consequently, when the operator has moved the carriage to any desired point of its travel, the carriage is in condition to begin traverse of the record again 'under the iniiuence of the feedy SCIeW.

When the carriage is moved over the record by hand and if the movement is sufiicient, the stylus 2B, due to its engagement with the grooved record surface, causes the carrier 22 to pivot about the trunnion 25 until the pin 21 at the outer end of the carrier engages either side of the guide plate 26 depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, one of which positions is shown in Fig. 2. However, this is. not detrimental, for, as soon as the mandrel commences to rotate, the carrier 22, due to its balanced mounting and partially under the influence of a spring il stretched between a point on carrier 22 and bracket 24 and the natural drag of the stylus 20 on the record I5, causes it to immediately assume a substantially central position with respect to the guide plate 26 and sound-box.

The same thing occurs when a record is placed upon the mandrel or record-support I6. When a record is upon the record-support, the carrier and stylus drop until the pin 21 engages the lower stop portion 42 of the guide plate 26. However, when a record is slid over the record-support, the record end first engages the side of the stylus guard 43, which is angularly disposed, and pushes the carrier sidewise until the pin 21 engages the side of the guide plate 26, as seen in Fig. 2, after which the bevel of the record end and the angularity of the guard 43 serve, with the continued movement of the record, to force the carrier 22 and related stylus 20 up until the stylus engages the end of the record, after which the bevel'oi the record end engages the ball-like stylus itself to complete the raising of the stylus to the surface of the record end, after which the record is moved to its seat on the record-support. Upon completion of this operation, the position of the carrier 22 and related parts will be that shown in Fig. 2. However, immediately upon rotation of the record-support I6 and because of normal tendency for the stylus to become c entralized'as above stated, the carrier arm and related parts are caused to move to a position substantially central in the guide plate 26 and at a right angle to the record-support I6.

In using the machine, the operator frequently desires to have repeated but a very small portion of the recording and consequently must backspace the carriage I4 and related sound-box Il but a very small extent.

To facilitate this, dictation machines have the mating threaded members invention is. provided with mechanism to backspace the carriage. The back-spacing mechanism selected for use with the present invention comprises a back-space lever Il rotatably mounted.

on a Vtubularl bearing 45 secured in the carriage Il 'and is provided-at its top'portlon with a lug '48 pivotally carrying a pawl 41 which has a limited range of movement. This lever is normally held in inoperative position yas seen in Fig. 2,

:in any desired manner such as by the spring 48 whichis enclosed in the collar 49 held on the tubular bearing 45 by a screw 50, as is shown in connection with the forward-space lever et.

When the back-space lever d4 is operated, the pawl M engages a rack i' secured to suitable supper-tecn the frame and forces the carriage backwardly a predetermined extent. To further back-space"`the carriage, the back-space lever M may be repcatedlyoperated. The back-spacing mechanismabove described is oi usual form, such as is disclosed in the patent to Macdonald No. 1,030,740, June 25, 1912, excepting, however, that the depression of the back-space key it does not disengage the feed-nut from the feed-screw nor does it raise the stylusfroin the record.

It should be especially noted that, according to thevpresent invention, this back-spacing operation 'is effected independently of the operation of the feed-screw 23 and the cooperating mechanism on the can'iage le and without necessitating disconnections of these elements, for, upon application of the extraneous force of the back-spacing mechanism .the resistance of the friction washer or" spider 35 on the circular worm wheel '36 is overcome suiliciently so that the wormwheel Sti may rotate and roll upon the feed-screw while the carriage is moving backwardly.

While obtaininglthese advantages, the present invention retains the previously provided advantageous means for holding the stylus against all lateral movement during the 'back-spacing operation, so that after baekspacing it will assume the same position with relation to the eoundfbbx which ithad before the back-spacing operation commenced. Any suitable means may be empldyed for accomplishing this, but as shown herein.- the means comprises a clamping arm 52 pivoted on the saurai-box` It and having a locking surface tit" normally adapted to be disengaged from'a cooperating locking surface 5B formed on an E5' constituting an integral part of the bracket iid. 'Ihe'lamping arm d2 is adapted, when, moved to operative position, to engage the td' en the bracket 24 to prevent its floating movement. 1

The means for operating the clamping arm 52 comprises an arm. 56 pivotally mounted on the Candace-frame it and having the upper, operatn ing endadapted to engage a depending lug on the clamping arm 52. 'I'he arm be is rocked when the bacirfspace key 4t is depressed by means of a spring El connected to the operating endof the arm dat and connected at the other end to an ear 5d on 'a lever 59 which is iixed on the shaft4 dit. 'lllueY lever iid is provided with a finger Bi niormallylocated in a. notch 52 in a sleeve portion d@ ci, the back-space key lit.-

Whenthe back-space key dd is depressed, the sleeve-Gt rocks carrying with it the ringer 6i so as to rock the shaft Gli. At the same time. the leverd.- by reason of its movement, tensions the spring mand causes the arm 56 to rock rearwardly moving the clamping arm 52 into engagement with its cooperating surface 54 on the vcompleted the stylus will `banket arm ss to leek the stylus zo against :reeA

lateral movement. The parts are so constructed that the stylus is locked against lateral movevment before the back-space pawl I1 engages the rack 5l to back-space the carriage. When the back-space key 44 is released, a spring 48 causes it to return to its normal position and the'arm I8 is returned to normal position underthe influence of the finger 6| and slot 62 connection.

Thus it will be seen that the stylus .is first clamped and then laterally moved bodily with the carriage during the back-spacing operation, and that after the back-spacing operation has been be in the same position relative to the carriage that it was in before the back-spacing operation was commenced.

The present invention also provides a forward spacer on the carriage of the machine for'the purpose of advancing the carriage predetermined ex tents longitudinally of the record in order to return the carriage after back-spacing or t listen to matter which is still to be transcribed. This forward spaceris similar in construction and operation to the back-spacer hereinbefore described but acts in the opposite direction. In the disclosed embodiment of this feature of the invention, it comprises a forward spacer lever 6d which is rotatably mounted on the bearing te and is provided with a pawl 65 on its upper portion which is adapted'to engage the rack 5i when the lever 6d is depressed, and thus effect a forward spacing of the carriage a predetermined extent. In this forward spacing operation, the stylus and related carrier are held in position relative to the carriage by the same means and same parts as are used for this function in the back-spacing operation, the shaft 6d being moved to actuate the arm 56 and clamping frame d2 to lock the stylus against a lateral movement; in this case the shaft is rocked by means oi an arm t6 located at the opposite end of shaft t@ from arm tl, but having an oiset portion tl which cooperates with the sleeve of the forward-space key' tt in the same way that the arm ti cooperates with the sleeve of the back-space key M.

This operation, like the backspacing operation, is accomplished While the stylus engages or slides over the record-surface independently of the op eration oi the feed-screw and without necessitating disconnection of these cooperating parts.

While the operation for back or forward spacing the carriage and related parts small and prel determined extents which has just been described is occasionally performed, the previously described operation, namely that of simply grasping and moving or merely pushing the carriage, is in most instances performed, especially when it is desired to space the carriage a large extent. This latter procedure is a particularly important reature made possible by the present invention, for it results in a saving of both effort and time and simpliiies machine operation. A

Further. the semi-ixed connection of the driving mechanism comprising afeed-screw and re lated parts on the carriage provided by the present invention prevents damage to these related parts should the carriage be inadvertently struck or forcefully moved, for then the cooperating parts of the driving mechanism will regularly roll or operate in the same manner as if pushed by hand.

Variations and modifications may be madel claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, iszy l. In a dictating machine, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, carnage-driving means comprising a feed screw on the trame and screw-engaging means on the carriage, means to back-space the carriage step by step, and means associated with'said screw-engaging means for permitting operation of said back-space means while the feed screw and'screwengaging means remain engaged.

2. In a dictating machine, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, carriage driving means comprising a feed screw on the frame, and screw-engaging means on the carriage, means to forward-space the carriage step by step, and means associated withA said screw-engaging means for permitting the operation of said forward-spacing means `while the carriage driving means remain engaged.

3. En a dictating machine, in combination, a carriage, a rotatable feed-screw for driving said carriage, a rotatable feed-nut mounted on said carriage in engagement with said feed-screw, a member irictionally engaging said' feed-nut for enabling the latter to drive said carriage, means to backspace the carriage step by step, and means for regulating the frictional engagement of said member with said feed-nut for permitting operation oi the loackspace means while the feed-screw and feed-nut remain engaged.

a. In a dictating machine, in combination, a carriage, a rotatable feed-screw for driving said carriage, a rotatable feed-nut mounted on said carriage in engagement with said feed-screw, a member frictionally engaging said feed-nut for enabling the latter to drive said carriage, means to forward-space the carriage step by step, and means for regulating the irictional engagement ot said member with said feed-nut for permitting operation of the forward-space means while the feed-screw and feed-nut remain engaged.

5. In a dictating machine, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, carriage driving means comprising an element on the frame and an element on the carriage arranged to cooperate with said element on the frame, means independent of said cooperating elements to backspace the carriage, and means y associated with said carriage driving means for permitting operation of said backspacing means while said element on the frame and said element on the carriage are in cooperation with each other, whereby the backspacing means may be operated without disturbing the interrelationship o! said elements.

6. In a dlctating machine, the combination of a frame, a carriage movable on the frame, carriage driving means comprising an element on the trame and an element on the carriage arranged to cooperate with said element on the frame, means independent of said cooperating elements to forward-space the carriage, and means associated with said carriage driving means for permitting operation of said forward-spacing means while said element on the 'frame and said element on the carriage are in cooperation with each other, whereby the forward-spacing means may be operated without disturbing the interrelationship of said elements.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 

